Patent GB-1032425-A (GB)
Title: Article collating apparatus
IPC: B65H29/42
Filed: 1963-04-09
Abstract: 1,032,425. Packaging-machines. CROWN ZELLERBACH CORPORATION. April 9, 1963 [April 26, 1962], No. 14157/63. Heading B8C. [Also in Divisions B5 and B6] A method of collating generally flat articles, such as collapsed bags, having dissimilar opposite ends comprises grasping successive articles and turning them through 90 degrees about an axis transverse to the direction of supply a predetermined number being turned in one or the opposite direction and after each article has been so oriented bringing the same into engagement with the preceding article so that similar ends of a group of articles are arranged on one side of the so-formed batch and those of another group on the other. The articles, illustrated as paper bags 1, are fed down between guide rollers 11 and guide members 14, 17, with the thicker bottom end leading, into feed rolls 23, 24, roll 23 having a pair of raised arcuate sections 28 extending half-way there around which engage the periphery of the feed roll 24 and pull a bag downwardly. After a rotation of about 180 degrees, a gap again exists between the rolls to allow the bags to rotate in the grasping means. The means for grasping and rotating each bag comprises continuously rotating gripper assemblies 36, 37 adapted to operate in accordance with a predetermined sequence controlled by a known counter mechanism 67. As each bag is fed down by the feed rolls the right gripper assembly 37, for example, grasps the bottom end of the bag, rotates it counterclockwise through 90 degrees, Fig. 5, and releases it on to take-off means 7. The left assembly functions similarly when actuated by the control means. After reorientation, with the bottom ends of the bags extending either to the left or right, the bags are discharged on to worm feed members 38, 39 and rest on a conveyer belt 51. The counter mechanism is connected to solenoids 71, 72, which operate air cylinders 74, 76 to extend alternately the slide members 77, 78 and their cam followers 79 into contact with the gripper assemblies. Each gripper assembly (Fig. 9) includes a housing 84 and is rotated by a shaft 83 secured to a hub member 87 (Fig. 12, not shown), welded to which is a face plate 88 having a boss 88<SP>1</SP> (Fig. 12, not shown). The housing is connected to the hub for relative longitudinal sliding movement and for rotation therewith by bolts 97 screwed in the plate 88 and engaging members 90 mounted in the housing. Springs 98 urge the housing to the right, as shown. A collar 103 rotates with and is slidable along the hub 87 and has secured to it a cam ring 111 and a gripper plate 116. The collar 103 is thrust axially away from the face plate 88 by a pair of coil springs 121, Fig. 9, which in turn urge the gripper plate towards the face plate and into contact with the boss 88<SP>1</SP>. The cam ring 111 is likewise moved towards operative engagement with the cam follower 79. The bags are grasped between the plate 116 and the end 125 of the housing 84, but in the idling position the boss 88 ensures that a gap exists between these members. When a roller 79 is advanced to operative position it engages only the end surface of the housing, Fig. 9, which is slidably projected to close space 131 between the gripper plate 116 and the flange 85. During further rotation of the gripper the cam ring is urged to the left, Fig. 12, moving the plate 116 away from the housing end 125 and providing a space 131<SP>1</SP> into which a bag is then inserted. During the following rotation, the gripper plate 116 is retracted towards the end 125, the housing 84 still being in the extended position, thus clamping the bag. Continued rotation of the gripper effects rotation of the bag through 90 degrees, the upper end of the bag passing between the idling gripper and a guide strip 9, Fig. 5, after which the gripper plate is urged away from the clamping flange to allow the reoriented bag to be released to the takeoff conveyer. An arcuate stripper element 127 (Fig. 12, not shown), secured to the housing and fitting in a cut out in the plate 116 ensures that the bag is pushed away from the housing. The apparatus is adjustable for various bag sizes and batch counts.